Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 166 · 40 questions

Writer's tip (No problem, no story): Find the moment where something goes wrong — usually just after the beginning. Say it in a few words: a kite gets stuck in a tree. A place, a time or the way it gets fixed is not the problem.

1. 1.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. Nisha recalled the rhyme Mrs Sen had taught her. She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right. Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen. (a) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. (b) Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. (c) Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen.
2. 2.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. Saanvi looked under the sofa and behind every cushion. At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head! Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (a) Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (b) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (c) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat.
3. 3.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. Diya held out a biscuit and spoke softly to it. The puppy crept out and licked her hand. Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed. (a) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) her balcony (c) one cloudy evening
5. 5.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall. Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. Kavya took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage. She sang so loudly that everyone could hear her. Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (a) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. (b) Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (c) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall.
6. 6.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. Omkar spoke softly and put a saucer of milk nearby. The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. Omkar named her Pixie and gave her a cosy box. (a) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
7. 7.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. Anjali pressed her rubber slipper hard over the crack. Appa rowed fast to the shore while she held it there. Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief. (a) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. (b) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. (c) Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief.
8. 8.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring. Zoya looked carefully under every chair and table. The earring was shining beside the flower stand. Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly. (a) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) The microphone stops working before her song
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) on Sports Day (c) the hill road
10. 10.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road. Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off. Rohan sat down and studied the chain slowly. Mr Das, a kind farmer, showed him how to fix it. Rohan rode on, proud that he could fix a chain now. (a) Rohan rode on, proud that he could fix a chain now. (b) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off. (c) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road.
11. 11.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. Omkar spoke softly and put a saucer of milk nearby. The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. Omkar named her Pixie and gave her a cosy box. (a) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. (b) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. (c) Omkar named her Pixie and gave her a cosy box.
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on bake sale day (b) his hill village (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the science fair (b) one busy morning (c) Homework is left at home
14. 14.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! Manav ran after the goat and held out a carrot. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner. Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (a) Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (b) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. (c) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach!
15. 15.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. Advik opened the window wide and stepped back. Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside. Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky. (a) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. (b) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky. (c) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window.
16. 16.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. Sneha found a torch and made shadow animals on the wall. Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit. Sneha told stories until the lights came back on. (a) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. (b) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. (c) Sneha told stories until the lights came back on.
17. 17.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room. He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere. Rahul was upset, but his friend Simran had an idea. They turned the big blue splash into a lake. Rahul’s poster with the lake won first prize. (a) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A new girl has no friends at lunch (b) the railway station (c) one stormy night
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school bus (b) on a Wednesday evening (c) The lights go out and her little brother cries
20. 20.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. Nisha recalled the rhyme Mrs Sen had taught her. She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right. Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen. (a) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
21. 21.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. Sneha found a torch and made shadow animals on the wall. Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit. Sneha told stories until the lights came back on. (a) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) The lights go out and her little brother cries
22. 22.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! Manav ran after the goat and held out a carrot. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner. Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (a) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
23. 23.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach. Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. Maria thought hard and moved further up the sand. Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out. This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset. (a) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
24. 24.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! Riya laughed and asked politely if it could be fixed. Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing. Riya carried home a cake with her name spelt right. (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
25. 25.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond. Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. Kabir tried to reach it, but his arms were too short. He tied a basket to a stick and scooped the ball out. Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game. (a) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
26. 26.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. A baby yak had wandered away from the herd. Tenzin followed its hoofprints down the muddy path. He found it by a stream and gently led it back. His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea. (a) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one cloudy evening (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) her balcony
28. 28.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. He found that he had left his homework at home. Aryan told Ms Gill the truth before she even asked. Ms Gill let him bring it the next day. Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again. (a) He found that he had left his homework at home. (b) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again. (c) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom.
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on the first day of school (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) the garden shed
30. 30.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Wednesday evening (b) the art room (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
31. 31.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. Dev was scared, but he told the librarian the truth. Ms Fernandes smiled and showed him how to tape it. Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself. (a) Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself. (b) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (c) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed.
32. 32.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. Anjali pressed her rubber slipper hard over the crack. Appa rowed fast to the shore while she held it there. Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief. (a) A boat starts to leak (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
33. 33.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. Then Isha saw another girl sitting alone too. Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch. By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends. (a) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) A boat starts to leak
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the art room (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) early one Saturday
35. 35.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground. A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. Aarav jumped and jumped, but he could not reach it. His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free. Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again. (a) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one quiet Sunday (b) his rooftop (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
37. 37.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach. Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. Maria thought hard and moved further up the sand. Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out. This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset. (a) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (b) This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset. (c) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach.
38. 38.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. A long snake was curled up near the door. Imran stepped back slowly and did not touch it. Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely. Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts. (a) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. (b) A long snake was curled up near the door. (c) Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts.
39. 39.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all. Tara asked Mr Nair, the gardener, what was wrong. He helped her move the pot into the sunshine. Soon a green shoot peeped out, and Tara danced. (a) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a new school (b) on a Wednesday evening (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book

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